President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government are treading on thin ice in relation to the upcoming sessions of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which commence tomorrow (12).

With all preparations set for a new resolution on Sri Lanka to be presented before the Council this week, most likely on Monday or Tuesday (13), the Government delegation headed by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry PC and Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is heavily lobbying member states of the UNHRC to push the Sri Lankan Government’s case to them. However, sources from Geneva note that a majority of the international community remain unconvinced given the sudden change of Wickremesinghe’s policy on the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka.

While the heat continues to intensify on Sri Lanka in the cool climes of Geneva, President Wickremesinghe continues to face a challenging time in Sri Lanka, mainly due to his alliance with the SLPP. The President’s attempts to balance things with the SLPP have resulted in many other political parties opting to distance themselves from the Wickremesinghe administration.

President Wickremesinghe, meanwhile, had last week paid a visit to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) at his new official abode on Malalasekara Mawatha. During the short meeting, the two had exchanged pleasantries, with Wickremesinghe inquiring after GR’s well-being.

It is learnt that GR had informed President Wickremesinghe that he had no intention of engaging in politics again, while noting that he was trying to sort out a visa to travel to the US to visit his family. Wickremesinghe and GR had engaged in a brief chat before Wickremesinghe left, asking the former President to inform if he required any Government assistance.

It is also learnt that the head of GR’s security, Army Special Forces Officer Ranasinghe Mudiyanselage Mahinda Ranasinghe, was recently promoted from the rank of Brigadier to Major General. Ranasinghe also accompanied GR when he and his wife fled to the Maldives on 12 July following his ouster from the President’s House by protesters.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa sibling and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa left for the US on Friday (9) morning on Emirates Airlines flight No. EK 651 to Dubai and then onwards to the US. Basil’s initial plans of leaving for the US in July were delayed following public protests and later by a case before the Supreme Court.

By RUWANI FONSEKA in The Morning, Sept 11, 2022
https://www.themorning.lk/rws-government-under-fire-as-a-stronger-resolution-on-sri-lanka-takes-form-in-geneva/